Lavandula plant named ‘Anouk Deluxe 169’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lavandula  plant named ‘Anouk Deluxe 169’, characterized by its upright plant habit; freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy appearance; strong durable plants; freely flowering habit; dark purple to dark violet blue-colored flowers with red purple to purple-colored terminal flower bracts positioned on strong and erect peduncles; strong re-flowering habit; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Lavandula stoechas.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ANOUK DELUXE 169’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Lavandula plant,botanically known as Lavandula stoechas, commonly referred to asLavender and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Anouk Deluxe 169’.

The new Lavandula plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Nuis, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program was to develop new unique Lavandula plants with goodperformance and attractive plant form and flower coloration.

The new Lavandula plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in May, 2011 of Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk’, disclosed in U.S.Plant Pat. No. 16,685, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Lavandula stoechas identified as code number 1252, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lavandula plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledenvironment in Nuis, The Netherlands in May, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Lavandula plant by terminal cuttings ina controlled greenhouse environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands sinceAugust, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Lavandulaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lavandula have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of the new Lavandula plant. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Anouk Deluxe 169’ as a newand distinct Lavandula plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy appearance.    -   3. Strong durable plants.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Dark purple to dark violet blue-colored flowers with red        purple to purple-colored terminal flower bracts positioned on        strong and erect peduncles.    -   6. Strong re-flowering habit.    -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent, ‘Anouk’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula have a stronger re-flowering        habit than plants of ‘Anouk’.    -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula and ‘Anouk’ differ in terminal        flower bract color as plants of ‘Anouk’ have violet-colored        terminal flower bracts.

Plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are more upright than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula have smaller terminal flower        bracts than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Lavandula can be compared to plants of the Lavandulastoechas ‘Sanne’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,632. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Lavandula differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Sanne’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are more upright than plants of        ‘Sanne’.    -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula and ‘Sanne’ differ in terminal        flower bract color as plants of ‘Sanne’ have purple-colored        terminal flower bracts.

Plants of the new Lavandula can also be compared to plants of theLavandula stoechas ‘Toscane’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,046.In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Lavandula differprimarily from plants of ‘Toscane’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula have a stronger re-flowering        habit than plants of ‘Toscane’.    -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula and ‘Toscane’ differ in terminal        flower bract color as plants of ‘Toscane’ have light        purple-colored terminal flower bracts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Lavandula plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Lavandula plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Anouk Deluxe 169’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical leavesand an inflorescence of ‘Anouk Deluxe 169’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and following detaileddescription were grown in 3-liter containers during the winter and earlyspring in a glass-covered greenhouse in Boskoop, The Netherlands andunder cultural practices typical of commercial Lavandula production.Plants were 21 months old when the photographs and description weretaken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from5° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 15° C. Inthe following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk Deluxe 169’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,685.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Lavandula            stoechas identified as code number 1252, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About ten days at            temperatures about 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 60 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 70 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; initially white in color            and becoming more brown with development; actual color of            the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water            quality, fertilizer type and formulation.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright plant            habit; freely branching habit, dense and bushy appearance;            moderately vigorous growth habit; flowers arranged in            verticillasters on crowded spikes with showy terminal flower            bracts.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 47.9            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 48.3            cm.        -   Plant width.—About 52.8 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Quantity per plant: About 17            primary lateral branches developing per plant with numerous            secondary branches. Length: About 24 cm. Diameter: About            2.5 mm. Internode length: About 1.4 mm. Strength: Moderately            strong. Aspect: Upright to about 35° from vertical. Texture            and luster: Moderately tomentose; matte. Color, developing:            Close to 144B to 144C; pubescence, close to 157D. Color,            developed: Close to 199A and 199B.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple; sessile.            Length: About 3.7 cm. Width: About 5.5 mm. Shape: Narrowly            oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire;            revolute. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Moderately tomentose; matte. Fragrance: Strongly aromatic,            pungent. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing            leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A. Developing leaves,            lower surface: Close to 143B to 143C. Fully expanded leaves,            upper surface: Close to NN137C; venation, close to NN137C;            pubescence, close to 157D. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 138B; venation, close to 138B to 138C;            pubescence, close to 157D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type, arrangement and habit.—Small single salverform            flowers arranged in compact verticillasters on crowded            terminal spikes; freely flowering, about 100 flowers            developing per inflorescence and about 1,700 flowers            developing per plant; flowers with two-lobed upper lip and            three-lobed lower lip; flowers face mostly outwardly on the            spike; inflorescences with showy terminal flower bracts.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; continuous            from late spring into the summer in The Netherlands; strong            re-flowering habit.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Individual flowers last about            ten days on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Shape: Elliptic. Texture and luster: Moderately tomentose;            matte. Color: Close to 143C; towards the base, close to 144C            and 144D; pubescence, close to 157D.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height: About 4.8 cm. Diameter, at            terminal flower bracts: About 1.8 cm. Diameter, below flower            bracts: About 1.5 cm.        -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 4.5 mm. Depth (height): About            8.5 mm. Throat diameter: About 1 mm. Tube length: About            5 mm. Tube diameter: About 1 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Upper lip, two-lobed and            lower lip, three-lobed. Length, upper lip: About 8 mm.            Length, lower lip: About 7 mm. Width, upper lip: About 2 mm.            Width, lower lip: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Roughly spatulate;            lower 75% fused into a tube. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.            Texture and luster, upper (inner) surface: Smooth, glabrous,            velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower (outer) surface:            Smooth, glabrous, moderately velvety; slightly glossy.            Color: When opening and fully opened, upper (inner) surface:            Close to between 79A, N92A and 203B; with development, color            becoming closer to between N92A and 203B; throat, close to            N87B. When opening and fully opened, lower (outer) surface:            Close to between 79A, N92A and 203B; with development, color            becoming closer to between N92A and 203B; tube, close to            N87D.        -   Terminal flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About five            positioned upright at inflorescence apex. Length: About            2.3 cm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape: Narrowly obovate to            narrowly oblong. Apex: Broadly acute to obtuse. Base:            Narrowly cuneate. Margin: Entire; moderately undulate.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately            tomentose (minute hairs); matte. Color, upper surface: Close            to between 70A and N77B; midvein, close to N77C; pubescence,            close to 156C and 156D. Color, lower surface: Close to            between 70A and N77B; midvein, close to 184B; pubescence,            close to 156C and 156D.        -   Basal flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: Each group of            five flowers is subtended by a single basal flower bract.            Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Broadly            rhomboidal. Apex: Broadly aristate. Base: Cuneate. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Densely tomentose; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 145D; venation, close to 143A tinged with close to            197B; pubescence, close to NN155C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five, fused into a            campanulate tube. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 0.5 mm.            Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture and            luster, upper (inner) and lower (outer) surfaces: Densely            pubescent; matte. Color: When opening and fully opened,            upper (inner) surface: Close to 144D; venation, close to            144A; pubescence, close to NN155C. When opening and fully            opened, lower (outer) surface: Close to 143B; towards the            apex, tinged with close to 197C; pubescence, close to            NN155C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Aspect: Mostly upright. Strength: Strong. Texture and            luster: Densely tomentose; matte. Color: Close to 147B to            147C; pubescence, close to 157D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four.            Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to 86A.            Anther shape: Reniform. Anther length: About 0.2 mm. Anther            color: Close to between N92A and 203B. Pollen amount:            Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 14A. Pistils: Quantity per            flower: One. Pistil length: About 4.5 mm. Stigma shape:            Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 203A to 203B. Style            length: About 4 mm. Style color: Close to 197C to 197D.            Ovary color: Close to 143B to 143C.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been            observed on plants of the new Lavandula.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Lavandula have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Lavandula    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lavandula have exhibited good    tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate high    temperatures about 40° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 7.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lavandula plant named ‘Anouk Deluxe169’ as illustrated and described.